4085/Long Uncomfortable Silences

Long Uncomfortable Silences
Date of Scene:	16 March 2018
Location:	Gotham City
Synopsis:	Bruce Wayne and Mariam, his bodyguard, have their first discussion since he revealed his secret identity.
Cast of Characters:	Batman, Mariam O'Shea

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Batman has posed:
    The first limousine ride for Bruce Wayne's bodyguard after the revelation was assuredly going to be an awkward one. When he had stopped by and rapped his knuckles on her door, the first time she'd seen him since that evening, he seemed as if nothing had happened. He was still the normal faintly jovial Bruce that she had seen around the manor and other people. "Ms. O'Shea, we'll be leaving in twenty minutes for the opera. I believe it's Don Giovanni tonight. So wear something festive." His smile was there but she could tell it was an affected one. It might have been confusing, but then she might have realized that there was company in the sitting room, so he was performing once again. Playing at the dance for the world that she had seen at first.
    But then the limousine rolled to the front door, Alfred speaking up on the intercom to let him know it had arrived. But when she stepped out the door and towards the vehicle, the door being opened and held for her... she would find Bruce Wayne already inside.
    No words of greeting were given at first. Just a nod to the side, as he had taken the closest corner seat to the door, giving her the bench seat or the one just under the window to the chauffeur. But once she was situated, the car began to roll forwards and they would be lost into that quiet hum of travel by that electric vehicle, rolling along the highway towards Gotham and then into the city's streets where the traffic slows them to almost a crawl.
    And yet he still says nothing at all.

Mariam O'Shea has posed:
    The urge to run had faded after a bit but Mariam was still rather overwhelmed by everything that had happened. She was already preparing for the evening when the knock came at her door. She walked that way and peeked out, finding herself facing the Bruce Wayne she had come to know. It was the freakiest moment of her life. She had expected to see him as his other persona now but his skills were so exemplary that he still came across the way he chose. She gave a terse nod at his words then closed the door, flipping the lock back in place.
    When she emerged again, she was in an evening gown. The skirt flowed and had a slit on one side, allowing for movement should there be a fight. The top was long sleeved and covered her body but the shoulders and arms were made of black lace. It gave it a more feminine and delicate look while still giving her full coverage as she prefered. Her sunglasses were in place as always, hiding her eyes and her thoughts.
    Once she reached the limo, she slipped into the bench seat, that way she could keep an eye to the front as well, then settled in with her hands folded on her lap. No conversation. No words of greeting. She returned the terse nod and that was that.
    As they rolled toward their destination, a single thought went through her mind. It was going to be a very long night.

Batman has posed:
    Once they hit Old Town, the traffic always snarls, the limousine slows to a crawl as it hits those series of lights that always bisect the lines of traffic, causing a steady series of stops and starts though the driver is good enough to prevent the movement from being jostling. And yet they still ride in silence, the streetlights shining down into the windows and the moon roof, causing the myriad of lights to shine off the man's features even as he rests with one hand holding up his head.
    It's about the fourth red light that they hit that he turns his head slightly, just enough to the side to indicate that he's speaking as he lifts his voice. "You look lovely tonight."
    His brow furrows as he looks to the side and he considers her directly, his eyes narrowed a little. "Is that one of Barbara's dresses?" He asks of her, perhaps never having seen her in something approximating such elegance before.

Mariam O'Shea has posed:
    Somehow, Mariam does not jump out of her skin when he speaks. She doesn't even start physically and give it away. Her attention had been on the traffic, head on a swivel as she keeps an eye on the area around the limo. These are prime moments when there could be an attack. The traffic is a good cover. There is not a good escape route. So she wasn't watching him and able to see that assessing look.
    She glances over at him a little too sharply, that motion perhaps giving away the surprise she was hoping to have hidden. "I...thank you. No, I bought it recently. It was a designer that Barbara had recommended though." She almost glances down at herself to self consciously smooth the skirt but manages to quell the urge. Her eyes go back to his face. "I couldn't keep borrowing her clothes so I thought I should pick up a couple."
    She is talking an awful lot. Way more than she likes to. She clamps her teeth together, that jawline tight as she looks outside the window again.

Batman has posed:
    Resting his hands in his lap, the limo begins to move forwards again though it only slips past one streetlight before it reaches the next. At least now, far off in the distance and through the moon roof they can see the spotlights shining for the opening of this particular show. It's sure to be a busy night and the steady cavalcade of stars and the well to do is assuredly impacting their arrival time.
    "I'm not angry with you." He says, brow furrowing as he looks back towards the outside. The red of brake lights slide over his features as he lifts a hand to scritch at the faint hint of stubble along his sideburn. He looks back to her, eyes distancing then focusing upon those mirrored lenses. "Nothing has to change. If you'd like to stay on, I would like you to because you can help me."
    There's a distant honk, but the sound-proofing on the vehicle helps to stifle it. "I won't ask you to take part in anything illegal. And I've already made arrangements that if things happen, then you'll be in the clear, legally."
    His hand lifts slightly as if waving his own words away. "I knew I could trust you. Just as I trusted you to do the right thing years ago."

Mariam O'Shea has posed:
    After another scan of the exterior, Mariam turns to face him again and listens quietly. No wasted movements. No expressive reaction on her face. She simply watches as he speaks.
    Her internal reactions are a mixed bag. If anyone should be angry, it's her for being duped. Of course, everyone has been. Is being. All of Gotham. All of the world since the billionaire playboy is well known. Her brow does furrow a bit as he continues.
    "I don't see how they can /not/ change," she says honestly. "It complicates it all." She shakes her head then glances away, to the front of the limo then the sides and back as she continues to speak. "I'm over here doing my job and all the while I know you could handle any threat to you better than I can." She gives a rueful laugh when she says that, the irony of it so clear to those in the know. Batman. With a bodyguard.
    "You want me to stay for the two months or after? We know Mr. Fox will manage to have the rule repealed and you could go back to being without a chaperone."

Batman has posed:
    As Mariam gives that rough laugh, Bruce Wayne surprisingly smiles. Just a little. He leans forwards, resting his elbows on his knees even as the limo continues its smooth roll forwards. "Ms. O'Shea," He gestures with one hand slightly to the side, "When I do things like this... when I'm out and about as I am now..." He looks back to her and relaces his fingers. "I can't watch everything, control everything. I have a blindside like anyone else. I'll need you to keep an eye on it."
    That smile remains in place but there's a touch of... sincerity there? As he then murmurs, "I'd like you to stay on after the two months are over. I've found your presence to be helpful. It's given me more options to be somewhere and then not be there. To give an impression of something." Then there's a quirk of an eyebrow, "And perhaps sometimes it's just nice to not have to deal with everything myself."

Mariam O'Shea has posed:
    That earns a slight snort. She doesn't mean to. It just sort of happens as she hears those last words. "My apologies, Mr. Wayne," Mariam says quickly. "But after seeing your computer array and satellites..." She still hasn't gotten over him having access to satellites. "I somehow think letting go of control is not high on your agenda. So I find it hard to believe that you actually ever relax."
    She glances away then, not out of rudeness but continuing to do her job. Nevermind that she knows he can handle himself. She can't /not/ do it. It's ingrained and she will continue to do so for as long as the assignment is there.
    When the cycle brings her eyes back to him. "It's easier for you to disappear when you have someone to guard the door so no one can go in your hotel room and learn otherwise." She considers a second then a small smile appears on her face. "I will consider staying on if you agree not to see that Antelope, Gazelle, Deer-In-The-Headlights--Whatever that model's name is--again."

Batman has posed:
    "It is easier, yes." The tall man with the blue eyes smiles slightly, then gives a nod. But when I am out and about like this, I am more vulnerable than normally. And having you around does help. If nothing else it makes Alfred feel a little more at ease. Slightly." That having been said he smiles at the window again as they continue to roll on.
    But then she adds her condition and he looks back to her curiously. He cants his head to the side and for once... she has stumped the man who would be Bats. "Adriana?" He asks as he tries to conjure forth the memory by looking upwards, imagining those that might fit the profile.
    "Or do you mean, Naomi?" Since she would work as well. He then asks, "Why would that be a matter of contention?"

Mariam O'Shea has posed:
    Mariam stares at him for long seconds. He can't be that clueless about the woman. "No, those both have been fine. If you call throwing themselves at your feet and drooling on themselves fine," she adds in a half mutter. She gives a slight shake of her head. "Tawny. She is rude and treats everyone as though they are her servants. She talks down to everyone. She's shown up at the manor a couple of times, unannounced, and seems to believe she will be living there as your wife within the next six months."
    She glances toward the front of the car then back. "Even Barbara has agreed the woman is frightening to behold. I know you probably have another week or two before you send her to the curb but I would suggest you do it sooner. For sanity's sake."

Batman has posed:
    His lips part as he expels a simple, 'Ah.' and gives a nod. He then gets a wry half-smile but it's fairly faint, more alive in his eyes than anything else. "I see," He gives a single nod and then seems to raise his eyebrows as if surprised but opens his hands towards her as if surrendering to the condition. Which he is. "Let's just say she didn't bother to let me in on her plans. But if it'll make you feel any better, I wasn't intending on calling her back anytime soon."
    Then he gets that sort of Bruce Wayne smirk as he tilts his head back towards her. "Is that another area of my life you'd like to take charge of? Arrange my social calendar? Vet the people I go out with on occasion?"
    But at that point the Limo pulls forwards and starts to drift closer to the curb, making it more clear that they're about to disembark shortly as the Gotham Opera House looms ever nearer.

Mariam O'Shea has posed:
    That slight smile is back on Mariam's lips as she shakes her head. "Just that one. Unless one of your other admirers ends up being the same or worse. Then I reserve the right to protest." With that, she is moving toward the door to be there when it opens. If there is a shot, she's taking it. She won't open the door though, waiting for their driver to do that. It wouldn't do for a red carpet event such as this not to follow protocols.
    Already she is scanning the crowd outside, making sure nothing seems off in preparation for their emergence from the darkness of the limo.
    When the door is opened, she quickly looks over everything in line-of-sight then she steps out of into the flashbulbs of the press gathered around in the hopes of seeing the stars and celebrities. When they see who she is, the photos stop immediately. She gives a quick look left then right and steps to the side to allow Mr. Wayne out of the car.